Body support for medical applications

ABSTRACT

A body support for medical applications comprising a main body piece, at least one expansion piece, and at least one, preferably two arm pieces, which may have their own expansion pieces. All of the pieces are preferably made of soft flexible materials. In one embodiment, the pieces are a soft cloth covering containing an internal cushion without an internal rigid frame. In an alternate embodiment the pieces are a soft cloth covering containing an internal cushion with an internal rigid frame. In yet another alternate embodiment, the pieces are a soft cloth covering containing a rigid or quasi-rigid internal frame and covered with a cushioning padding, such as foam rubber, batting or the like.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of body supports for use inmedical applications.

BACKGROUND

Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital disorder of the colon in whichcertain nerve cells, known as ganglion cells, are absent, causingchronic constipation. The lack of ganglion cells, proven by OrvarSwenson to be the cause of the disease, disables the muscularperistalsis needed to move stool through the colon, thus creating ablockage. One in five thousand children suffer from Hirschsprung's. Fourtimes as many males get this disease than females. Hirschsprung'sdevelops in the fetus during the early stages of pregnancy. Typicalsymptoms for infants include not having their first bowel movement(meconium) within 48 hours of birth, and repeated vomiting. Some infantsmay have a swollen abdomen. Two thirds of the cases of Hirschsprung'sare diagnosed within three months of the birth. Occasionally symptoms donot appear until early adulthood. A barium enema is the mainstay ofdiagnosis of Hirschsprung's, though a rectal biopsy showing the lack ofganglion cells is the only certain method of diagnosis.

The usual treatment is “pull-through” surgery where the portion of thecolon that does have nerve cells is pulled through and sewn over thepart that lacks nerve cells (National Digestive Diseases InformationClearinghouse). For a long time, Hirschsprung's was considered amulti-factorial disorder, where a combination of nature and nurture wereconsidered to be the cause (Madsen 19). However, in August of 1993, twoarticles by independent groups said that Hirschsprung's disease could bemapped to a stretch of chromosome 10. This research also suggested thata single gene was responsible for the disorder. However, the researcherswere unable to isolate the single gene that they thought causedHirschsprung's.

There used to be two steps typically used to treat Hirschspring's. Thefirst stage used to be a colostomy. When a colostomy is performed, thelarge intestine is cut and an opening is made through the abdomen. Thisallows bowel contents to be discharged into a bag. Later, when thechild's weight, age, and condition is right, a pull-through procedure isperformed. The pull-through procedure repairs the colon by connectingthe functioning portion of the bowel to the anus. The pull throughprocedure is the typical method for treating Hirschsprung's in youngerpatients. Swenson devised the original procedure, but the pull-throughsurgery has been modified many times. Pull-through procedures used torequire a colostomy, but with increased awareness among doctors andparents about the symptoms of Hirschsprung's and with early diagnosis,doctors can keep the colon clean and perform the pull-through procedurewithout a colostomy. In general, 85 percent of patients that have thepull-through surgery live normal lives afterwards. The other 15 percenthave to take a laxative for the rest of their lives.

Frequently these laxatives are administered in a suppository form,requiring the patient to remain in a specific, and often uncomfortable,position for an extended period of time. Thus, there are present andcontinuing needs for new and improved body support for medicalapplications, especially those with Hirschsprung's.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a body support formedical applications.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a body supportfor medical applications that includes expansion pieces that allow forthe customizability of the height, width or depth of the body support.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its structure and its operation togetherwith the additional object and advantages thereof will best beunderstood from the following description of the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words andphrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary andaccustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art orarts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification willspecifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word orphrase. Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in theDescription of Preferred Embodiments is not intended to indicate adesire to invoke the special provision of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 todefine the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C.§112, paragraph 6, are sought to be invoked to define the invention(s),the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for”and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure,material, or act in support of the function. Even when the claims recitea “means for” or “step for” performing a function, if they also reciteany structure, material or acts in support of that means of step, thenthe intention is not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112,paragraph 6. Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112,paragraph 6, are invoked to define the inventions, it is intended thatthe inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, materialor acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but inaddition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that performthe claimed function, along with any and all known or later-developedequivalent structures, materials or acts for performing the claimedfunction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the body supportfor medical applications, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the body support with arm rest accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the body support with arm rest includingthe height adjustment pads according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the body support with arm rest includingmultiple height adjustment pads according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the body support with an alternate armrest according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the body support with the alternate armrest including the height adjustment pads according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the body support with the alternate armrest including multiple height adjustment pads according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the present invention showing componentsof one embodiment according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is useful for supporting various body parts andpositions in use in medical applications.

With reference to the figures, the present invention is a body supportfor medical applications 1 comprising a main body piece 10, at least oneexpansion piece 15, and at least one, preferably two arm pieces 20,which may have their own expansion pieces 25.

All of the pieces, 10, 15, 20, and 25, according to the presentinvention are preferably made of soft flexible materials. In oneembodiment, the pieces, 10, 15, 20, and 25 are a soft cloth 14 coveringcontaining an internal cushion 13 without an internal rigid frame 11. Inan alternate embodiment the pieces, 10, 15, 20, and 25 are a soft cloth14 covering containing an internal cushion 13 with an internal rigidframe 11. In yet another alternate embodiment, the pieces, 10, 15, 20,and 5 are a soft cloth 14 covering containing a rigid or quasi-rigidinternal frame 12 and 11 covered with a cushioning padding 12, such asfoam rubber, batting or the like.

In shape the main body piece 10 is preferably has a modified triangularprism. A triangular prism is a prism comprising of two modifiedtriangular sides 19, a generally rectangular bottom (not shown), agenerally rectangular back 16, and a curved, generally rectangular front18. The curved, generally rectangular front 18 has a slightly convexshape. It is critical to the present invention that the partialconcavity in the face side 18 is located adjacent the intersection ofthe face side 18 and the back 16. The reasons for the criticality ofthis location will be discussed below.

Prior art cushions contain generally triangular prisms with a curvedface. All of these curved faces have the curve in the center of theface, presumably to provide comfort to a user who is reclining theirback on the curved face. The instant invention, however, addresses thecomfort of a person who is generally in the prone position over thecushion. See especially FIG. 1. The curve in the face of the cushionneeds to be near the apex of the triangle shape since it is designed toaccommodate the projection of the abdominal portion of the body cavitywhen in this position. This allows the user to have their stomach in aslightly pushed out position, as opposed to a more compressed positionthat have the curve in the center of the cushion would force. Thisslight pushed out position is what is required for maximum comfort tousers who need to have lengthy suppositories for various medicaltreatments, thus the criticality of the location of the curve in thefront face of the cushion.

Further, the interior of the main body piece 10 may include a variableinflation air chamber (not shown), located just underneath the curvedface in order to provide variable stiffness to the curved face andvariable curvature to fit the various girths found in typical users.

Attachable to the main body piece 10 is the at least one expansion piece15. Each expansion piece 15 is preferably a cuboid having major facesthat are at least the same size as the rectangular base side of the body10. The attachment of the first expansion piece 15 is to the base side11 of the main body piece 10 and is preferably removable and repeatable.Subsequent expansion pieces 15 would removably and repeatably attach toalready attached expansion pieces 15 thereby providing an expandablebase use to increase the height of the main body piece 10. These armpieces 20 are included for further comfort when a user must stay in theprone position for extended periods of time, as is required by somemedical treatments.

Attachable to the at least one expansion piece 15 are least two armpieces 20. Each of the at least two arm pieces 20 are cuboids havingsides a>b>c. Alternately, the arm pieces 20 may have their own armexpansion pieces 25, which are preferably the same size and shape as thearm pieces 20. Attachment of the arm pieces 20 to the arm expansionpieces 25 is by the same method as attachment of the body piece 10 tothe expansion piece 15. These expansion pieces are useful for growingindividuals, whose body size expands over the years, thereby reducingthe need to repurchase the body support as the user grows.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is described above in theDrawings and Description of Preferred Embodiments. While thesedescriptions directly describe the above embodiments, it is understoodthat those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/orvariations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Anysuch modifications or variations that fall within the purview of thisdescription are intended to be included therein as well. Unlessspecifically noted, it is the intention of the inventor that the wordsand phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary andaccustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s).The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of theinvention known to the applicant at the time of filing the applicationhas been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications andvariations are possible in the light of the above teachings. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical application and to enableothers skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in variousembodiments and with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

1. A kit for body support in medical applications comprising a main bodypiece, at least one expansion piece useful for raising the height of themain body piece, and at least one arm piece useful for supporting aperson's arm, the main body piece shaped like a modified triangularprism comprising two modified triangular sides, a generally rectangularbottom, a generally rectangular back and a curved generally rectangularfront, wherein the curved generally rectangular front has a singleslightly concave shape with the concavity located adjacent theintersection of the face side and the back and not in the middle of thecurved generally rectangular front.
 2. The body support according toclaim 1 further comprising at least one arm piece expansion piece. 3.The body support according to claim 2 wherein the at least one expansionpiece is a cuboid having major faces that are at least the same size asthe rectangular base side of the main body piece.
 4. The body supportaccording to claim 3 wherein the at least one arm-piece is a cuboidhaving sides a>b>c.